Why use a spool when you can use a reel?

[KevinNM]

Being able to pay out line in 0 viz is obviously a safety issue, but I was curious where @KevinNM was leading with the "if you can't use it in 0 viz, you die". I've seen some of the best cave instructors in the world foul up primary reels while they can see. Stuff happens, not always your fault. I have buddies that use a safety reel for lost line potential, but they also keep a spool just in case. If it fouls, tie the spool onto something mostly solid, tie the reel onto it, and keep going.

If you are searching for a lost line in zero viz using a safety reel and your reel decides to jam it seems to me that it has just become significantly more likely today is going to be a bad day. Maybe you can reliably troubleshoot and fix your reels in zero viz while searching for a lost line. It just seems like a bad plan to me. But I might be wrong.

 

[shoredivr]

Great replies. I picked up the spool as it is required in a class for shallow deco, or at least the instructor wants me to use it. In my few years of diving I've always just freely maintained my stops without a line.

I suppose as I'm sitting here looking at this thing I guess I'm having a little buyers remorse, not that it was expensive, though I did buy the stainless steel one. I have a reel, but it's too big and would be more suited for dragging a flag, something we don't do where I dive. I'll practice with it, but I've notice so many carry a spool and some reels are pretty small and it would seem a reel would be more user friendly than a spool. Though the jamming issue does make sense. Of course I see myself dropping this thing and letting out 80 feet.

A Delrin spool won’t sink the way the SS one will. Oh, never mind, already answered.